Second season for Sunoco GRAND-AM 200 Challenge

After an extremely successful first year the Sunoco GRAND-AM 200 Challenge is back and even bigger than before with the Dutch Super Car Challenge added to the programme.

To give more racers the opportunity to race at Daytona, Anglo American Oil Company launched the Sunoco GRAND-AM 200 Challenge where the ultimate prize is a race-seat in the Continental Series GS class in the GRAND-AM 200 race at Daytona.  As the name implies this is a 200 mile race and driver changes are compulsory. The race is held on the Friday before the Rolex 24, the driver who wins the challenge will gain the full American experience and race in an American muscle car such as a V8 powered Chevrolet Camaro.

The eligible series for this year are the Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship 3 and 4, Britcar Production Cup classes 1, 2, 3 and 4 (which will all score points separately in each class), GT Cup classes 1, 2 and 3 (again all scoring point separately in respective to their class), Legends, Dunlop Production Touring Cars, F3 Cup and new for this year the Dutch Supercar Challenge which will be spilt up into classes GT, SS1, SS2 and Sports.

“The Challenge was very well received last year by both the series organisers and the drivers which has encouraged us to continue to give something back to the racers. I am very pleased that we will once again providing Sunoco race fuel to: Britcar, Legends, Dunlop Production Touring Cars, F3 Cup, and GT Cup, and delighted to have these series back for the second year of the GRAND-AM Challenge. I am also extremely pleased to be able be expanding into Europe this year with the Dutch Super Car Challenge joining us. Anders Hildebrand, Managing Director of Anglo American Oil CompanyThe points are administered as per the Sunoco Rolex 24 At Daytona Challenge and therefore has also had the points awarded from 2nd position to 8th position changed in order to keep more racers in contention throughout the year. We believe by narrowing the gap between the points that we will have more racers in the running to win the Sunoco GRAND-AM Challenge.This year the last point scoring round for the Britcar Endurance classes will be at Snetterton on the 18th and 19th of August whereas the last round for Production classes will be the Britcar Production Cup last championship round on the 24th of November at Brands Hatch. The Silverstone 24hr will not count towards the Challenge this year due to racers swapping teams and cars at the event. 

All other participating series last rounds will be their competitors chance to score points.

The inaugural Sunoco GRAND-AM 200 Challenge was won by F3 Cup Champion Aaron Steele. Aaron had a fantastic season and dominated the F3 Cup in the 2011 season with 14 wins from 18 races.Aaron put in a sterling performance but unfortunately for Steele his Daytona dream was cut short when gearbox trouble forced his to retire from the race. Despite the disappointing end to his Daytona prize drive, Aaron remains positive about his experience and hopes this will not be his last time at Daytona.“It was an unfortunate end to my prize drive but hey I got to drive at Daytona! I had a great time in Daytona and winning the Challenge has opened up a lot of possible new avenues to take towards a professional racing career. The Sunoco GRAND-AM 200 Challenge is a fantastic prize and to win it and be able to make the most of the opportunity that Anglo American Oil Company provide, truly is a once in a lifetime experience which I’d recommend to anyone.” Aaron Steele, inaugural Sunoco GRAND-AM 200 Challenge winnerThe race is on to find this year’s winner and with more than 100 racers expected to sign up its set to be a fantastic season.

All the latest news and information, including the rules and regulations, can be found at www.sunoco200challenge.com


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